It was the first Test match of the series and the venue was the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Batting first, India declared at a mammoth score of 537/8 thanks to centuries from Navjot Singh Sidhu, skipper Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin. In reply, Arjuna Ranatunga’s Men toiled the Indian bowling line-up and posted and declared at a gigantic score of 952/6.